The Village Glebe – Sydney

When looking for a place to stay in Sydney, Australia you have to expect that you’re not going to find a cheap hotel that’s also in a good location. Hotels are pricey and, depending on the time of year, those in the best locations fill up fast. Enter The Village Glebe Hostel.

Typically, I veer toward apartments and AirBnBs if I’m staying somewhere for an extended period of time. If I’m only staying for a couple of nights it can be easier to just stay at a hotel where you don’t have to worry as much about check-in, cleaning, etc. The middle of road option, hostels are another option that can be great deals with most of the conveyances that you find in a hotel.

Accommodations at The Village Glebe

In Sydney, the Village Glebe Hostel is the best of both worlds. They offer private rooms, which are essentially hotel rooms. It may not have all of the amenities (no mini-bar or TV) but is clean and comfortable. The private room at The Village Glebe is actually bigger than many of the hotel rooms that you’re used to.

The room is very basic, with a table, bed and bathroom. However, everything is clean and comfortable. The air conditioning works great, which is ideal for the hot Summer days in Sydney. Some rooms (room #5) also has a separate entrance.

The Village Glebe Amenities

When it comes to the other conveniences that you may want from a hotel, they do exist, they are just in shared spaces. For instance, you have full access to a large, shared kitchen where you can store your food in the fridge and/or cook meals if you’re trying to save a few bucks.

There are outdoor tables to relax or dine at as well as an indoor TV room with comfy couches and chairs if you want to lounge around. There are also air hockey and pool tables if you get bored just hanging around.

The Neighbordhood

The best part of the Village Glebe Hostel is the neighborhood that it is in. The neighborhood of Glebe is my new favorite spot in Sydney. Glebe is within walking distance of Darling Harbour, George Street and Circular Quay (a 30+ minute walk) or you can hop on the 431 bus, which stops almost directly across the street, and be on George Street or at Central Station in 10 minutes for just a couple dollars.

Glebe is not a fancy, upscale neighborhood. Glebe Point Road, where The Village Glebe is located, is lined with bars, restaurants and mini-groceries. You won’t see as many tourists here as you would in Darling Harbour or around the Sydney Opera House, which is refreshing and gives you a bit of a feel of what it is like to actually live in Sydney. I’ll definitely stay in this neighborhood on my next visit.

Room types and rates at The Village Glebe

Shared dorm
A bed in a shared dorm starts at $32/night. They range from 4-12 beds and have a bathroom in the rooms

Female only shared dorm
Similar to the regular shared dorm, these start at $34/night and have 6-8 beds.

Private room
Starting at $72/ night, these have a double bed and private bathroom. The website states that they also have coffee facilities and TVs, but the one that I stayed in did not. It was still a deal and I’d stay there again.

Getting to The Village Glebe

From the airport: take the T8 train to Central Station and then hop on the number 431 bus heading to Glebe Point Road. While at the airport stop at one of the shops and purchase an Opal card. You’ll need to add about $AUS 20 for the trip. Just tap the card when boarding the train and bus and you’ll be all set. IMPORTANT: (Tickets are not sold on the bus so you need to purchase it before you try to board).